Hydrangea

[sunshine]

I gave this bush to my neighbor a couple years ago and is planted it next to my yard...strategic planting. ;-) I get to enjoy it without taking up space in my yard. It's white all summer and turns pink in September.

[Ladyelaine]

Beautiful. My grandmother used to have 2 bushes of giant double blue pompom hydrangeas, one on each side of her front doorsteps. The blooms were always bright blue, didn't change color. As for the type of bushes she had, it is my understanding that they could be either pink, white, or blue depending on the acidity of the soil.

[takncarabizniz]

Is that the strawberries and cream variety?

I love it !!!

[sunshine]

I forgot the name, might be something like Chantilly Lace... But we fed a shorter one food to change the  PH to make it blue and I think that spread over to the white one and made it pink.

[sunshine]

Oakleaf Hydrangea...I bought two of these...so far love them for the leaves. Not long enough to bloom yet. :
oakleaf

The oakleaf hydrangea is named for its foliage which is shaped like oak tree leaves. In fact, its scientific name, Hydrangea quercifolia, is derived from Latin word “quercifolia” which literally translates into “oakleaf.”

Not only do its leaves look like oak tree leaves, the oakleaf hydrangea leaves turn color during the fall as well and are the only type of hydrangeas that do this. Their leaves can range from golden orange and bright red, to deep mahogany—making them one of the most attractive shrubs for your fall garden.

The oakleaf hydrangea is one of the few hydrangeas native to the United States. The only other hydrangea that’s native to the US is the smooth hydrangea. The oakleaf hydrangea has white cone-shaped flower heads (similar to those of a panicle hydrangea) and can come in two forms: single blossom and double-blossom. Just like the panicle hydrangea, its flowers will gradually turn pink as the plant matures.

Sturdier than its cousins, the oakleaf hydrangea can withstand a wider range of climate conditions than most bigleaf hydrangeas. Oakleaf hydrangeas can survive drier conditions, and are more winter hardy. Unlike mopheads, these oakleaf hydrangeas need drier, well-drained soil as they are highly sensitive to water log.

The oakleaf hydrangea is a popular choice for gardens because of their long-term benefits. Their flowers bloom in early summer and last until late summer. When fall begins, their leaves steal the show by turning into attractively bright orange and red colors. When planting them in your garden, avoid areas with deep shade as too much shade can actually cause their fall foliage colors to fade. Oakleaf hydrangeas thrive in hardiness zones five through nine.